Monthly Archive: January 2017

NW Maths Hub 3 would like to invite all Primary Maths Subject leaders to a PLYT session– what is PLYT and how can it be used?

PLYT is about being your best not the best at maths, so it gives lower attaining mathematicians confidence and helps create a “can do” attitude. It’s perfect for use across the entire school Yr1-6, for mixed ability classes and also for families to improve parental engagement.

A few PLYT highlights below:

PLYT improved the maths of a Yr5 class in Warrington by an average 19%, playing just 1 hour per week (on a Friday afternoon!) for 5 weeks. Importantly 100% of the children said that they felt more confident with numbers from playing PLYT.

PLYT has been proven to improve maths in a family environment: independent researchers – Askyourstaff – proved that playing at least once a week for just 6 weeks improved the maths of 7-13 year olds by 30% and adults by 22%. Read more here

PLYT has been endorsed by National Numeracy (and is recommended as one of the best games on their family maths toolkit) and also by leading maths consultants

PLYT is easy to play and yet is incredibly flexible – it can cover much of the KS1/2 curriculum and increases confidence with numbers

PLYT is already used in many schools and they’ve had great feedback from teachers

Most importantly children love playing PLYT and don’t realise they are doing maths – it’s maths by stealth!

The session will take place on: Monday 20th February 2017, 1.30-3.30pm at St Mary and St Thomas’ CE Primary School, Barton Close, St Helens, WA10 2HS- TSA POD, situated at the rear of the school.

Focus: to ensure that all teachers know how to use the game for their individual class and get the most from the resource.

Target audience: Maths SLs and Teachers.

Cost of the session: Free of charge, there are 20 places available, these will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

There is more information for schools on their website here but the Chief Plyter is Lisa McCartney and she’d be happy to help with any questions you may have about the game. Please don’t hesitate to contact her via email lisa.mccartney@plyt.co.uk or on 07956 352926 for more information.

From ‘Modelling to Mastery’- Year group based sessions- starting January 2017

Teachers will explore how to start from a model moving to depth of learning to achieve Mastery. They will extend the mathematics tool kit as well as looking at how we can teach the skills of reasoning and solving problems to ensure teachers are meeting the 3 aims of the National Curriculum.

Success@Arithmetic- 3 sessions

Success@Arithmetic is an innovative, highly effective intervention for pupils in Key Stages 2 and 3 who need support to become fluent at arithmetic.

Expert training enables a teacher to plan a programme and a teaching assistant to deliver it to a small group of pupils. The training also strengthens their teaching and support of mathematics across the school- Starting January 2017

PVI/Nursery Practitioners (including schools with Nursery settings)

Maths Everywhere! Practitioners will explore ways of ensuring Maths is everywhere, including ideas for enhanced and continuous provision, adult and child led activities focusing on number, counting and place value- starting March 2017

Mathematics Subject Leaders Day 2- Friday 10th March 2017 Focus on the Assessment of Mastery; moderation and standardisation. There will also be an opportunity for quality assurance of Maths practice via NW Maths Hub 3 as they share their experiences from current national practice and policy.

These sessions will explore what a learner looks like in a year groups. Establish what the key areas of maths are and what this looks like with a depth of understanding. The session will provide an opportunity to build the mathematical toolkit further with new ideas! Teachers will have the opportunity to look at a range of children’s learning in the specific year groups. It will also support teachers to make a summative judgement and then help them plan and adjust teaching for the third term. Sessions are led by experienced moderators and quality assured by NW Maths Hub 3.

There will be a pre-course task and teachers are asked to bring a small selection of children’s books.

Places are limited and will be given on a first come, first serve basis. Booking on all sessions is essential.

Costs:

A full days course costs- £150, this includes: refreshments (including light lunch) and all course materials.

½ day training costs- £70, this includes: tea/coffee/biscuits and all course materials.

Alliance members receive 25% of all training opportunities.

Maths SL network meetings and Head Teacher briefings are Free of Charge to all alliance members.

All sessions are led by Tara Loughran, Tara has extensive experience in schools for leading improvement and change in mathematics. She has provided high quality training for the St Helens TSA since becoming at teaching school in 2013; she has inspired lots of teachers and support staff to take her ideas back to the classroom with significant impact. Tara represents NW Maths Hub 3 across the North West.

Intervention programmes are led by ECC (Every Child Counts) team at Edge Hill University.

Work Groups led by Secondary Mastery Specialists in association with NW Maths Hub 3

REMINDER- CLOSING DATE: FRIDAY 6th January 2017, 4pm.

What are the expectations of participating schools and teachers?

Schools that wish to participate in the Work Group must commit to the following:

The Work Group teachers will be released to attend four separate half-day meetings (one per half-term from January to July 2017).

The Work Group teachers will engage in certain tasks (as planned and negotiated with the specialist) to support their ongoing professional development between each of the meetings.

The head of department and senior leadership will fully support the Work Group teachers to undertake these development tasks.

The Work Group teachers will contribute to the final reporting and evaluation of the Work Group. (Note: Feedback and comments, quoted from discussions and lesson observations, and data, qualitative or quantitative, will be anonymised before inclusion.)

What are the costs for participation?

There is no fee or charge to participating schools to participate in this Work Group. The Maths Hub meets the cost of running the Work Group.

Who can apply?

Any secondary school with an interest in developing mathematics teaching for mastery can apply. The school should ideally identify two teachers that will be best placed to innovate within their own classroom and to lead developmental work across the department.

A reminder about the upcoming Secondary T&L CPD Session from NW3 Maths Hub.

The next session is delivered by Dr Dave Wholley this will take place on Wednesday 11th January 2017

This session will explore ways Bar Modelling at KS3 and beyond. This session will be practical session, providing a wealth of activities to take straight back to the classroom.

If you have already signed up to the sessions then I look forward to welcoming you on Wednesday 11th January, if not then it is not too late to sign up. The cost is £250 for the year and your whole department (plus any TAs and trainees) can come to every session. All sessions are at Rainford High Technology College.